What fencing actually costs in Victoria
Fencing is one of those jobs where quotes can vary by two or three times for what looks, on paper, like the same fence. That's because the per-metre rate you see advertised almost never includes the site-specific factors that make up the real cost. Here's what each fence type typically costs installed, and what pushes a job to the top or bottom of that range.
Timber paling fencing
Treated pine paling fencing is still the most common budget option for Victorian backyards. A standard 1.8m high timber paling fence, installed, typically runs from around $50 to $120 per linear metre, depending on:
- Paling grade (standard treated pine vs feature-grade or hardwood)
- Post type (timber vs concrete-in steel posts)
- Whether it's a single-sided good neighbour style or capped and lapped on both sides
Hardwood or feature paling fences can push well past $150/lm once you add capping, lattice or a stained finish.
Colorbond (steel) fencing
Colorbond fencing is now the default for new subdivisions and side/rear boundaries because it's low-maintenance and holds a straight line on uneven ground more easily than timber. Expect roughly $80 to $150 per linear metre installed for a standard 1.8m fence, with the spread driven mainly by:
- Panel profile (standard vs premium ribbed profiles)
- Post spacing, and whether extra posts are needed for wind rating
- Colour (standard colours vs premium Colorbond Ultra tones)
Aluminium and pool fencing
Aluminium slat fencing (often used for front fences or pool surrounds) generally sits between $150 and $300 per linear metre installed. Pool fencing specifically costs more than an equivalent-length boundary fence because of compliance hardware: every gate needs a self-closing, self-latching mechanism that meets AS1926.1, and the whole barrier has to pass inspection regardless of fence type. Frameless or semi-frameless glass pool fencing sits at the premium end, often $400-$600+ per linear metre.
What moves the price beyond the per-metre rate
The advertised rate assumes flat, clear, easy-access ground. Real quotes move because of:
- Height - anything over the standard 1.8m (screening or acoustic fencing) needs larger posts and deeper footings, adding cost per metre.
- Terrain - sloping blocks need either a stepped fence (cheaper) or a racked/raked fence that follows the slope (more labour), and steep sites may need retaining before a fence can even go in.
- Gates - a standard pedestrian gate typically adds $300-$600; a wide sliding or double driveway gate can add $800-$2,000+, and each gate needs its own posts and hardware.
- Old fence removal - demolishing and disposing of an existing fence typically adds $15-$40 per linear metre on top of the new fence price, more if there's embedded concrete or asbestos-cement sheeting (common in older fibro fences).
- Access - contractors pricing a job with no side access for a vehicle or auger often add a labour premium for manual post-hole digging and material carrying.
The Fences Act 1968: who pays for a shared boundary fence
In Victoria, dividing fences between neighbouring residential properties are covered by the Fences Act 1968. The core rule is simple: both owners are equally responsible for the cost of a sufficient dividing fence - for a standard residential block, that's generally considered to be something like a 1.8m timber paling fence, not a premium upgrade.
A few practical points:
- To formalise a shared fencing job, either owner can issue a Fencing Notice proposing the work and the cost split; the neighbour then has 30 days to respond or object.
- If you want something nicer than the sufficient standard - say, Colorbond instead of timber, or a taller fence - you're generally liable for the extra cost above the standard fence, not your neighbour.
- If a fence is damaged by one owner's negligence (or a tenant, or something entering from their land), that owner can be liable for the full repair cost rather than a 50/50 split.
- Pool fencing is treated separately from the Fences Act - safety compliance under AS1926.1 applies regardless of who owns or paid for the fence, since it's a safety barrier rather than a boundary structure.
Getting an accurate number
Because so much of the final price depends on your specific block - slope, access, gate count, what's being removed - a generic per-metre figure is only ever a starting point. The most reliable way to budget is to get fixed quotes from contractors who've actually walked the site, rather than relying on an average.
